Region

IU Law team makes semi-finals in trials

By Amber Nicholas · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 11:31 p.m.

With the case theme "Elroy Fudd, the caskets are us," the IU Law team advanced to the semi-finals in the Regional National Trial Competition in Chicago. Second-year law students Jason Towns, Layne Keele and Leslie Morse were part of the team that advanced Feb. 7, but ultimately fell to Loyola. The IU team competed at the Daley Center and argued its case against other law schools from Indiana and Illinois. Twenty-three teams competed for the top eight spots, one of which was won by IU.

Fashion knows no borders

By Patrice Worthy and Patricia Worthy · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 11:27 p.m.

Last week was the heart of New York Fashion Week -- a week full of runway shows, parties and free gifts. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend this season, but my misfortune opened my eyes to a bigger picture. On my way to New York, I got into a car accident and so I asked Mallory Zalkin, a fashion reporter for the Indiana Daily Student, to report on the week's festivities. As I was editing her story, I had to log on to an Associated Press site and pick out pictures to accompany her coverage.

Journalists like sex, too

By Alyson Brodsy and Jack Silverstein · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 11:25 p.m.

Four years ago, my dad and I took a little collegiate road trip to help me decide where I wanted to go to school. As an eager, young journalism student who spent senior year as co-editor in chief of the high school newspaper, I was considered a "blue chip" journalism recruit. Even with the number of agents who called my parents urging them to let me go pro ("I can't give you any names, but there are several big time papers interested in your son right now"), we decided I should see what college had to offer.

Hoagies, Theo and race relations

By Alyson Brodsy and Melanie Sims · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 11:24 p.m.

Footage of cars being flipped over and set on fire just a channel away, and there I was, busy watching my man Theo graduate from NYU. Not that I wasn't mad about the acquittal of racist policemen who beat Rodney King, it's just that I was seven. Plus, I loved Theo. With his sleeveless sweatshirts and old school British Knights, he was hot stuff. I claimed him as my boo since the day he and Cockroach summarized the history of Julius Caesar in a dope rhyme, complete with beatboxing.

Choices large and small

By Alyson Brodsy and Paul Musgrave · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 11:22 p.m.

SHANGHAI, Feb.15 -- I'm 10,000 miles from home, and all I can think of is economics. Not the big topics the word "economics" suggests, like China's joining the World Trade Organization or the massive problems facing this country's financial industry. No, the economics which concern me at the moment are more immediate. I am trying to decide whether or not to turn on the heat. This is a pressing issue, far more important than any statistic showing a troublesome -- or even a heartening -- trend in foreign direct investment.

Focus on the issues

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 11:20 p.m.

Less than a week remains before IU Student Association election day, and the banners are flying, the t-shirts are flashing and finally, the issues are appearing. We have to admit we were worried -- when candidates discuss nothing but alcohol and the politics of partying, it reminds us more of a sixth-grade election than a college campaign. Think of Johnny Popular from elementary school, standing on a chair and shouting, "More pizza! Longer recess!"

Around The World

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 11:20 p.m.

NEYSHABUR, Iran -- Runaway train cars carrying a lethal mix of fuel and chemicals derailed, caught fire and then exploded hours later Wednesday in northeast Iran, killing more than 200 people, injuring at least 400 and leaving dozens trapped beneath crumbled mud homes. Most of those reported dead were firefighters and rescue workers who had extinguished most of the blaze outside Neyshabur, an ancient city of 170,000 people in a farming region 400 miles east of the capital, Tehran.

Pakistan, India set peace 'roadmap'

By Alyson Brodsy and Munir Ahmad · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 11:12 p.m.

ISLAMABAD, Pakistan -- Pakistan and India laid out an aggressive timetable for peace talks on a wide-range of topics, including the hot-button issue of Kashmir and confidence-building measures regarding their nuclear arsenals, Pakistan's representative

Dean exits campaign

By Alyson Brodsy · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 11:09 p.m.

BURLINGTON, Vt. -- Howard Dean, bowing to the political realities of a 17-contest losing streak, ended his Democratic presidential campaign Wednesday but promised to keep his "campaign for change" alive while supporting his party's eventual nominee. The former Vermont governor did not endorse either of his top rivals, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts or Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina. He called both men before his announcement to tell them his decision.

Legislators try to ban ephedra

By Sarah Schwimmer · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 11:07 p.m.

An Indiana bill prohibiting the sale of ephedra or products containing a form of ephedrine passed the Senate last week by a margin of 47-1 but stalled in the House. State Sen. Ron Alting, R-Lafayette, and State Rep. Peggy Welch, D-Bloomington, sponsored the bill, which was co-sponsored by State Rep.

There's a badly-acted 'Party' going down

By -Nate Bethea · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 7:54 p.m.

Macaulay Culkin's first film since 1994's "Richie Rich" finds him looking about 16 and unable to carry a scene, much less a movie based around his character. "Party Monster" depicts the story of Michael Alig (Culkin), the darling of the late '80s and early '90s New York City club scene who boasted his own record label, magazine and well-known party night before he was arrested for murdering his drug dealer and roommate, Angel (Wilson Cruz).

Don't rent 'Sylvia,' read her

By Tony Sams · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 7:52 p.m.

The problem with "Sylvia," a biopic starring Gwyneth Paltrow as the unstable poet Sylvia Plath, is the same problem many films about artists encounter: you'll learn more about them by experiencing their art than you will from a scenes-in-the-life-of cinematic depiction of them.

'Wonderland' less than wonderful

By Neal Taflinger · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 7:51 p.m.

Remember that boring stretch toward the end of "Boogie Nights" when all the hophead morons try to pull off a big heist? "Wonderland" is a two-hour film dedicated to that. After "Porn King" John Holmes' star faded, he bumped around LA with low life hustlers and thieves. In early July of 1981, four people were brutally murdered in a house on Wonderland Ave. and John Holmes was either tangentially or directly involved with the murders, depending on whose version of the story you believe.

Coen flick and indie pics come home

By Ben Warden · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 7:50 p.m.

Being a member of the small but zealous group of movie fans who believe "Citizen Kane" doesn't hold a candle to "The Big Lebowski," anything the Coen Brothers put their name on deems my attention. Exit the indie financers and enter Brian Grazer with his infinite budget.

Altman's 'Company' devoid of character

By by Isaac Edwards and Isaac Edwards · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 7:45 p.m.

A fascinating trend I have come to observe in great, or at least interesting, films is that they will often divide their critics on shared conclusions: the reason they hate the film is the exact same reason that they love the film. Robert Altman could probably be the poster septuagenarian for this theory.

French flick fantastically far-out

By -Alec Toombs · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 7:43 p.m.

A dark horse has emerged in the race for Oscar's Best Animated Film. Funny, freaky and subtly sweet in a way that's not overly cloying, "The Triplets of Belleville" may have what it takes to broadside the Mouse House and Pixar's perennial powerhouse, "Finding Nemo."

Some 'Dates' are better than others

By Doug Evans · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 7:41 p.m.

The duo from "The Wedding Singer" are at it again, with a similar story and the same results.

Is fake suddenly the new real?

By Cassidy Flanagan · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 6:54 p.m.

For the past few months I have been religiously tuning into Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart." In lieu of real news programs, which boast their own dry reports of the world today, I have been drawn towards "The Daily Show" to follow the latest headlines and laugh at them. What is really ironic about this show is that it is a fake news program. But on this fake news show, headlines seem to be humorous, more informative and suddenly witty, begging the question: is fake the new real?

Pots of gold at the end of the '60s

By Greg O'Neill · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 6:51 p.m.

As I type, I'm watching an interview with Condoleezza Rice on Jim Lehrer. It's a talk-a-lot-but-don't-say-much affair. It's got me thinking: I've been trying to keep track of current events for, let's say, three and a half years now. You know what I've learned? Nothing that I couldn't have just by picking up today's newspaper and reading it all the way through.

Probot provides prodigious rock

By John Barnett · Wednesday, Feb. 18,2004 6:46 p.m.

Dave Grohl is a busy man these days, with filling various roles in Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Killing Joke, Tenacious D and now Probot.